飾る

• Reading: かざる
• Romaji: kazaru
• Kanji breakdown: 飾 (shoku/kaza) — decorate, adorn, display
• Pronunciation: /ka.za.ɾɯ/

Meaning

To decorate; to adorn; to display. Adding ornaments or arranging things attractively.

A Group 1 (godan) transitive verb conjugated with the る row. Used for decorating rooms (部屋を飾る), displaying items (写真を飾る), and adorning things with ornaments. Closely tied to Japanese seasonal customs like New Year decorations (お正月飾り) and Christmas (クリスマスの飾り).

Examples

1. 部屋に花を飾りました。 I decorated the room with flowers.
2. クリスマスツリーをみんなで飾りましょう。 Let's all decorate the Christmas tree together.
3. 棚に家族の写真を飾っています。 I have family photos displayed on the shelf.

Usage Guide

Context: home decor, seasonal events, daily life

Tone: neutral

Origin & History

From Old Japanese. The kanji 飾 combines 食 (food/vessel) and 巾 (cloth), originally referring to adorning vessels with cloth — later broadened to mean decoration in general.

Cultural Context

Era: Ancient

Generation: All ages

Social background: Universal